We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Tracking Microplasticsin Paradise: First Evidenceof Pollution in Lencois Maranhenses National Park (Maranhao,Brazil), a UNESCO World Heritage Site
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers conducted the first assessment of microplastic pollution in the Lencois Maranhenses National Park in Brazil, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The study documented the presence, characteristics, and potential sources of microplastics in this vulnerable ecosystem, establishing baseline contamination data for the protected area.
Microplastic (MP) pollution is a growing environmental threat to vulnerable ecosystems, including the Lençóis Maranhenses National Park (LMNP), a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site. This study provides the first assessment of MP presence, characteristics, and potential sources in this region. A total of 92 sand sediment samples was collected along 95.3 km of beaches across three zones: inside the LMNP (area 1), adjacent to the park (area 2), and a more distant coastal zone (area 3). Samples underwent flotation, filtration, and chemical digestion, and MPs were characterized by morphology and composition. Principal component analysis (PCA) was employed to explore associations between environmental factors and MP concentrations, while dispersion modeling based on ocean currents and wind patterns identified likely transport routes. MPs in the LMNP exhibited high variability in size, color, and polymer types, including uncommon materials like poly(ether–ether–ketone) (PEEK). PCA results indicated a strong influence of anthropogenic drivers, especially proximity to urban areas and tourism. Area 2 emerged as a key MP source. Spectral analysis revealed chemical similarities between MPs from areas 1 and 2, corroborating modeled transport connections. These findings offer critical baseline data for MP pollution in LMNP and inform future conservation and waste management strategies.
More Papers Like This
Tracking Microplastics in Paradise: First Evidence of Pollution in Lençóis Maranhenses National Park (Maranhão, Brazil), a UNESCO World Heritage Site
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers conducted the first assessment of microplastic pollution in Lencois Maranhenses National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Brazil, documenting MP presence, characteristics, and potential sources in this previously unstudied protected coastal ecosystem.
Microplastics Identification in an Environmental Reserve Area of Ilha de Itamaracá - PE
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers identified and characterized microplastics in water, sediment, and biota from an environmental reserve area in Brazil, documenting contamination by particles originating from both fragmentation of larger plastic items and primary microplastics, showing that even protected coastal areas are not free of MP pollution.
Contaminação e toxicidade de microplásticos em uma área de proteção marinha costeira
AI summary Read the abstract
This Brazilian study assessed microplastic contamination and toxicity in a coastal marine protected area, finding that sandy beaches accumulate plastic particles carried in by the ocean. The research highlights that even protected coastal zones are not immune to microplastic pollution, which can be ingested by marine wildlife and enter food webs.
Measurement of microplastic density in the Karimunjawa National Park, Central Java, Indonesia
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers measured microplastic abundance in the waters of the Karimunjawa National Park in Indonesia, a marine protected area, finding contamination despite its protected status. The results highlight that even designated conservation areas are not shielded from microplastic pollution carried by ocean currents.
Microplastics in a mosaic of Marine Protected Areas from southeastern Brazil: An assessment based on filter-feeding bivalves
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers used filter-feeding bivalves as biological monitors to assess microplastic contamination across 28 marine protected areas along a heavily populated stretch of coastline in southeastern Brazil. They found microplastics in bivalves from all sites surveyed, demonstrating that protected status alone does not shield marine areas from plastic pollution. The study highlights how diffuse, transboundary plastic contamination reaches even designated conservation zones.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.